Summary

Building for Culture funds benefit museum

Story

Comfortably in their new location in downtown Bellevue, KidsQuest Children’s Museum received a financial boost from Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Reagan Dunn to help the museum in its mission of educating young people throughout east King County. The Councilmembers presented the museum a $733,000 check, funds that come from King County’s Building for Culture program.

“KidsQuest is a unique and priceless asset to the Eastside. Their unique approach to learning through play allows kids to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a fun and accessible way,” said Balducci. “I am so proud to have spearheaded the effort that resulted in funding to support the work KidsQuest does for Eastside families.”

“I’m glad King County prioritized funding for organizations such as KidsQuest that provide accessible hands on learning experiences for our children that will help set them up for success in the future,” said Dunn.

Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Claudia Balducci with KidsQuest Executive Director Putter Bert. The councilmembers presented KidsQuest $733,000 in funds from the Building for Culture program

KidsQuest encourages learning through play with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). They offer over 200 unique programs and serve approximately 208,000 visitors per year. After outgrowing their original location, a Building for Culture grant helped them build their new, larger facility, which opened to the public in January 2017.

“The incredible support KidsQuest Children’s Museum has received from King County Council allows KidsQuest to offer outreach learning opportunities for a wide range of communities throughout our County. On behalf of the over 240,000 annual patrons we serve, Thank You!” said Putter Bert, KidsQuest President & CEO.

Building for Culture is a partnership between King County and 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency, using bonds backed by the hotel-motel tax to build, maintain, expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural facilities.